Monday, March 29, 2010

Wake Schools Poll

Wake County voters are extremely polarized in their feelings about the new majority on the School Board, but one thing there does seem to be a consensus on is that there should be a price tag before the district moves forward with changes to its assignment policy.

47% of voters in the county disapprove of the actions of the new majority so far with 42% approving. Feelings about them divide strongly on party lines. 61% of Republicans think they're doing a good job to 25% who disagree, while only 29% of Democrats like what they're doing to 64% who dissent. Independents are almost evenly divided with 46% supporting the new majority to 42% disapproving.

There's considerable division about some of the key issues in the district recently. 42% think changes to the assignment policy will result in segregated schools while 45% disagree. 42% think the School Board has been respectful to people with differing viewpoints while 48% do not believe it has.

One thing there is general agreement on is that the Board should do a full analysis of the cost to taxpayers before proceeding with changes to the assignment policy. And if the proposed changes would result in any additional cost to taxpayers voters in the county are opposed to it.

62% of voters support the full cost analysis to only 25% in opposition. 69% of Democrats, 65% of independents, and 49% of Republicans think that needs to happen. Only 32% of voters would support the changes to the assignment policy if they resulted in any additional cost with 42% opposed and 26% unsure. Bucking the usual trends Republican support the new policy regardless of its fiscal impact by a 43/27 margin. Democrats are against it by a 56/26 margin if it's more expensive and independents are nearly evenly divided.

Based on these poll results it's pretty hard for either side to claim a mandate right now for anything other than knowing the costs before moving forward. Beyond that the county is extremely divided in its feelings about the changes to the assignment policy.

3 comments:

To sum it up, independents are inclined to support conservative reform but have concerns about cost. Once again, independents lean toward being fiscally conservative and culturally conservative. And Democrats are standing for the failing status quo and protecting the spoiled wards of the government (unionized government employees). Democrats are the party of no. Republicans are the party of intelligent results-oriented reform.

Where did the $18M number come from? That hasn't been reported in the press. Also, when formulating the question did you consider savings from delaying the new high school? Frankly, those two questions sound like a push-poll.

LOL, It has been reported that delaying high school will cost $15 million more dollars. Every piece of research indicates the most cost effecient way of educating our children is maintaining economic balance in schools. High Poverty schools cost more to hire and retain teachers, and that still doesn't work.